[25.12.11] Gwangju Public Library Construction Site Collapse Leaves 2 Dead and 2 Missing

Gwangju Public Library Construction Site Collapse Leaves 2 Dead and 2 Missing

📍Mounting Allegations of Poor Construction as Rescue Efforts Stall

A steel-frame collapse at the construction site of the new Gwangju Public Library has left four workers trapped, with two confirmed dead and two still missing. Rescue operations continue to face severe difficulties as responders struggle to identify the remaining workers’ locations amid growing concerns over welding defects and improper load management during concrete placement.

A structural collapse occurred during concrete pouring at the construction site of the Gwangju Representative Library in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju. Fire authorities are rescuing workers believed to be buried in the rubble.

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🔹 Steel Structure Collapse Traps Four Workers, Killing Two
At 1:58 p.m. on the 11th, a steel and concrete structure at the Gwangju Public Library construction site in Chi-pyeong-dong, Seo-gu, collapsed during concrete placement. Four workers—plasterers, rebar workers, and pipefitters employed by subcontractors—were trapped beneath the debris. One worker was rescued after about an hour but was pronounced dead shortly after, followed by a second worker who died upon rescue at 8:13 p.m.

🔹 Hardened Concrete Complicates Overnight Rescue Efforts
The collapse left rebar tangled and concrete hardening rapidly, making access extremely difficult. Rescue crews are cutting through reinforced concrete layer by layer while deploying drones, search dogs, and thermal imaging cameras. A cold wave warning expected late at night is raising concerns about the survivability of the remaining trapped workers.

🔹 Evidence of Welding Defects Emerges
Preliminary analyses suggest the collapse began at the second-floor roof slab and triggered a chain reaction down to the first and basement levels. The site applied a patented construction method using PC composite beams and deck plates without support props. Safety inspectors found signs that critical welds connecting columns and beams had snapped “like glass,” indicating they failed to bear the concrete load.

🔹 Load Concentration During Concrete Placement
Experts note that improper load distribution during concrete pouring could have contributed to the collapse. If the concrete weight shifted to one area, structural failure could occur. The site had previously recorded a major accident in June when the site manager died after a fall, further highlighting chronic safety issues.

🔹 Police and Labor Authorities Launch Full Investigation
A 36-member investigation team has been formed by Gwangju Police, including the Serious Accident Investigation Unit and forensic teams. Authorities plan to determine liability, examine potential violations of the Serious Accident Punishment Act, and conduct joint forensic analysis with national scientific investigators. The Ministry of Labor has also suspended all work on-site.

🔹Project Overview
The Gwangju Public Library is a 39.2-billion-won project funded by national and municipal budgets. The facility is planned as a two-story public library with two underground floors, but the recent collapse has raised concerns over project delays and rework.

One-line summary : A steel-frame collapse at the Gwangju Public Library site left two dead and two missing, prompting difficult rescue operations and investigations amid allegations of poor construction and safety failures.